Managing DVM Repositories (4038646)

This article details the steps in creating, extending, and modify a DVM Repository on a software (non DL appliance) core.

For detailed information regarding DVM Repositories, search for "repositories" for the latest information and instruction in our User Guides. 

A repository is a data structure used to store and manage Rapid Recovery data. Backup snapshots are saved to a repository in the form of recovery points. Before you can protect machines, replicate, or restore data in Rapid Recovery, you need at least one repository. Please see below for following topics regarding DVM Repositories:

1. Creating a DVM repository
2. Connecting to a repository
3. Adding storage to an an existing DVM repository
4. Modifying repository settings
5. Suggested best practices

Create:

1. Open the Core Console, on the icon bar, click the More icon, and then select Repositories. The Repositories page will load. 
2. Click + Create, the Add New Repository wizard will open. In the Details section, edit the following:
   • Repository Name: Enter the display name of the repository.  
   • Concurrent Operations: By default the value is 64. Never decrease the value. Only increase the value if using fast storage over a connection greater than 1 GB.
   • Comments: Optional.
3. Click + Add Storage Location, the Add Storage Location wizard will open.
4. In the Storage Location section, select Add file on local disk or Add file on CIFS share:
   1. Local disk:
      • Data path:  Enter the location for storing the protected data. For example, X:\Repository\Data.
      • Metadata path:  Enter the location for storing the protected metadata. For example, X:\Repository\Metadata.
   2. CIFS share:
      • UNC path:  Enter the path for the network share location. For example, \\StorageA\Repository.
      • User name:  Specify a user name for accessing the network share location.
      • Password:  Specify a password for accessing the network share location.
5. In the Storage Configuration section, edit the following:
   1. Size: Set the size or capacity for the storage location. The minimum size is 1 GB. The default is 250 GB. Size limitation will depend on the Core operating system and the amount of free space on the storage location. At minimum leave 2% free space on each storage location. If disk is 10 TB in size, maximum repository size should be 9.8 TB.
   2. Click More Details to access the following:
      • Write caching policy: The write caching policy controls how the Windows Cache Manager is used in the repository. On, which is the default, allows Windows to control caching. If set to Off, Rapid Recovery controls the caching. If set to Sync, Windows controls the caching as well as the synchronous input/output.
      • Bytes per sector:  Specify the number of bytes you want each sector to include. The default value is 512.
      • Average bytes per record:  Specify the average number of bytes per record. The default value is 8192.
6. Click Save. The Add Storage Location wizard will close, the setting will be save, and the new storage location will be listed in the Add New Repository wizard.
7. Optionally, repeat steps 3 through 6 to add additional storage locations for the repository.
8. When all storage locations the repository have been defined, click Create. The Add New Repository dialog box closes, the new repository is created and is listed under DVM Repositories on the Repositories page.

Post Creation Options:

Core Console:

1. Open the Core Console, on the icon bar, click the More icon, and then select Repositories. The Repositories page will load.
2. Add storage locations (extents) to existing repository:
   1. To the right of the DVM Repository, click the drop down and select Add Storage Location.
   2. Complete steps 4 through 5 from he Create section listed above.
   3. Additional option includes Run Repository Optimization Job. It is not recommended to run this unless you have first increased you dedupe cache size.
   4. Click Save to add storage location.
   5. Repeat to add multiple storage locations.
3. Settings:
   1. To the right of the DVM Repository, click the drop down and select Settings.
   2. You can disable and enable deduplication and compression. 
   3. NOTE: Disabling deduplication and compression will result in faster transfer times, however, your storage needs will grow exponentially.

Registry:

1. Stop the core service and open the registry